2 Samuel 6:13

Translations

Modern

When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

Traditional

And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

Literal

And it came to pass, when those carrying the ark of YHWH had gone six paces, that he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

Latin

Cumque transcendissent qui portabant arcam Domini sex passus, immolabat bovem et arietem,

Original

Hebrew

English

When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

Notes

2 Samuel 6:13

David offered this sacrifice of praise to God immediately, just six steps into the journey.

2 Samuel 6:1–23

Except for a brief reference in 1 Samuel 14:18 (see note), the ark of the covenant does not appear again after 1 Samuel 7:1–2. In that passage, the Philistines returned the captured ark to Beth-shemesh, and it was later taken to Kiriath-jearim. There, the ark was placed in the home of Abinadab.

The ark’s long absence during the reign of Saul is significant. It shows that Saul did not seek the Lord and was spiritually insensitive (see 1 Chronicles 10:13–14; 13:3). During Saul’s forty-year reign, the ark played little or no role in Israel’s worship or leadership.

In contrast, David brought the ark to Jerusalem. By doing this, David publicly acknowledged the Lord as Israel’s true king in the new capital (see 2 Samuel 6:2). The ark’s arrival showed that Israel’s political center was now also a place of worship.

Theme notes and profiles

David Celebration The Ark of the Covenant

Events

Reign of David

Related verses

1 Kings 8:5
There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
1 Chronicles 15:15
And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
Numbers 4:15
When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
1 Chronicles 15:2
Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”
Numbers 7:9
But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.
Joshua 3:3
…and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.
2 Chronicles 5:6
There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
1 Chronicles 15:25–26
So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom.

2 Samuel 6:13

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